Food around Boston's Marriot Copley Place?

Chris D · August-17th-2005, 11:04 AM

Hey, New Englanders, please heed the call.

The Nance is Apple training at the Prudential Center this week and in search of places close by her Marriot Copley Place that are not what every tourist does.

She's got expense account dough, but not super high buck.

Root Doctor · August-17th-2005, 11:17 AM

How close by, Chris?

I particularly like Lala Rokh (http://www.lalarokh.com/) and a Malaysian joint, Penang, on Washington Street. In Chinatown, I usually have dim sum at the China Pearl and dinner at Peach Farm, both of which are on Tyler Street. In the North End, Taranta, on Hanover Street, is a bit steep but worth it.

bostontricky · August-17th-2005, 11:22 AM

Is Gyuhama still good for sushi? (It's been a while...)

What's the best bet for (nearby) local seafood? There's a Summer Shack on Dalton Street, wonder if it's as campy as the original.

walto · August-17th-2005, 11:33 AM

Penang is good, but it isn't that close. China Pearl, also not close, is famous for its generous Am./Chinese buffet. A fave of fat legislators and Big Dig workers, I'm not sure it'd be what she has in mind. But if she wants Chop Suey....

If she likes Pho (or other Vietnamese), there's a very good Pho Pasteur in Back Bay. Generally, there are a lot of good Vietnamese restaurants in Boston. There's also a pretty popular place around there--or used to be (I can't remember the name right now--something like "Fire and Ice") where you pick out every item you want them to stir fry for you.

Oh, FWIW, I really don't like Summer Shack.

bostontricky · August-17th-2005, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walto

Oh, FWIW, I really don't like Summer Shack.

No Name's a bit of a hike, and I didn't want to recommend the Pru Legal, swarmed with turistas.

What, you want me to send her to Durgin-Park?

frank m · August-17th-2005, 12:02 PM

I grew up in the environs of Boston during the war. The roads stands as well as the in town restaurants had fried clams, onion rings and potato fries as one of their prime dishes. They were all over the place. I recently went back to my home town, Lowell, and to Boston and searched all over the place for fried clams. I finally went to an upscale fish restaurant in Boston and ordered some. What junk! It wasn't fried clams, it was clam strips, comes out of a can and can be had at Howard Johnson type places all over.

WHAT HAPPENED???? Does anybody know where this New England dish can stil be had????

Root Doctor · August-17th-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walto

China Pearl, also not close, is famous for its generous Am./Chinese buffet. A fave of fat legislators and Big Dig workers, I'm not sure it'd be what she has in mind. But if she wants Chop Suey....

China Pearl hasn't been like that for years, Walt. It draws an almost predominantly Chinese crowd nowadays.

How far is Washington Street and Chinatown from Copley Square? A mile?

Valerie · August-17th-2005, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank m

I grew up in the environs of Boston during the war. The roads stands as well as the in town restaurants had fried clams, onion rings and potato fries as one of their prime dishes. They were all over the place. I recently went back to my home town, Lowell, and to Boston and searched all over the place for fried clams. I finally went to an upscale fish restaurant in Boston and ordered some. What junk! It wasn't fried clams, it was clam strips, comes out of a can and can be had at Howard Johnson type places all over.

WHAT HAPPENED???? Does anybody know where this New England dish can stil be had????

i go all the way to woodman's in essex, ma for mine and you'd think you were buying dope given the prices they charge!! sad but true.

bostontricky · August-17th-2005, 12:26 PM

Fried clams is dope, Valerie. Woodman's or the Clam Box, both up Essex way.

How's Kelly's on Revere Beach for that kind of stuff? We usually wind up with lobster rolls, roast beef and fried shrimp, haven't tried the clams.

Valerie · August-17th-2005, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostontricky

Fried clams is dope, Valerie. Woodman's or the Clam Box, both up Essex way.

How's Kelly's on Revere Beach for that kind of stuff? We usually wind up with lobster rolls, roast beef and fried shrimp, haven't tried the clams.

is the clam box in essex or ipswich, bostontricky?

for those not in the know about fried clams, maybe we should explain that the strips that some places serve are without the yummy belly of the clam which is the prize part!

bostontricky · August-17th-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie

is the clam box in essex or ipswich, bostontricky?

Ha! No wonder I could never find the joint! It's in Ipswitch!

Valerie · August-17th-2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostontricky

Ha! No wonder I could never find the joint! It's in Ipswitch!

and, while you're at it, don't look for "ipswitch"!! lol!! that's in salem!!

jesus marion joseph · August-17th-2005, 02:35 PM

I would heartily agree that Lala Rokh is a "must eat" place, and it's reasonably priced, considering the quality of the food. It's just across the common from Copley Square, an easy walk through the Public Gardens, which she also ought to see while she's in town. Another decent Pho place is Pho Vietnam on Stuart Street, which runs right into Copley Square. It's on the other side of the Theater District. Very cheap, not fancy, but good noodles.

Chris D · August-17th-2005, 02:36 PM

Great! Lala Rokh getting first mention. I'll let you know what she winds up doing.

stereojack · August-17th-2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostontricky

Fried clams is
How's Kelly's on Revere Beach for that kind of stuff? We usually wind up with lobster rolls, roast beef and fried shrimp, haven't tried the clams.

Kelly's clams are very good - I'd give them a B+. Woodman's gets an A, however, and they have the best onion rings.

When I was a kid, fried clams were way more plentiful then they are now. It has to do with red tide and other afflictions that have affected the clam industry, driving the wholesale price through the roof.

Valerie · August-17th-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stereojack

When I was a kid, fried clams were way more plentiful then they are now. It has to do with red tide and other afflictions that have affected the clam industry, driving the wholesale price through the roof.

and i would add to all those reasons, a dash of greed, perhaps!

bostontricky · August-17th-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie

and, while you're at it, don't look for "ipswitch"!! lol!! that's in salem!!

Double whoops. My slip is showing, but I've at least got an excuse:

- - -

Another recommendation for Lala Rokh, Chris.

hornplayer · August-17th-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walto

Oh, FWIW, I really don't like Summer Shack.[

I've never been to the Back Bay location, but I really DO like the Summer Shack at Alewife!

and fwiw, I have never enjoyed No Name!

How about Caffe Umbra on Washington Street? and I adore Icarus and Hamersley's Bistro in the South End.

High end Mexican at Casa Romero in the Alley Behind Newbury on Gloucester.

Chris D · August-17th-2005, 08:08 PM

They had a lot of homework and so decided to walk to Peach Farm tonight.

Great to see stereojack in the house!

stereojack · August-17th-2005, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

Great to see stereojack in the house!

Nice to be here.

hornplayer · August-18th-2005, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostontricky

What, you want me to send her to Durgin-Park?

When I lived in Boston, I used to LOVE Durgin Park for at least a couple of lunches every winter of their delicious Fish Chowder and Indian Pudding. I would still recommend that..... enjoyed it last February!

Dr Dave · August-18th-2005, 04:16 PM

Caffe Umbra. Tell Chef Laura Brennan that Lucy and David sent her. Eat at the bar with Joe, and have him make you one of his special negronis.

Chris D · August-18th-2005, 04:53 PM

Seems like bad luck and trouble last night.

A quote: "Thanks for the recommendations yesterday. We went to Chinatown. I kept my record of ordering something yucky. The clams in black bean sauce got good reviews on the website but it was gross. I tried to send it back and get something else, but there was some confusion. The waiter gave me a menu, but never came to let me order something else. I just ate the sauce on my white rice. Erik shared some of his chicken. We were the only non-Asians there.

"There was an 8 month or so baby who was screaming for a long time. I felt right at home. It was actually pretty fun despite the wrong entree choice. It was a nice walk."

Valerie · August-18th-2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

Seems like bad luck and trouble last night.

A quote: "Thanks for the recommendations yesterday. We went to Chinatown. I kept my record of ordering something yucky. The clams in black bean sauce got good reviews on the website but it was gross. I tried to send it back and get something else, but there was some confusion. The waiter gave me a menu, but never came to let me order something else. I just ate the sauce on my white rice. Erik shared some of his chicken. We were the only non-Asians there.

"There was an 8 month or so baby who was screaming for a long time. I felt right at home. It was actually pretty fun despite the wrong entree choice. It was a nice walk."

too bad. sounds like she needed to be a little more aggressive with the waiter! hope things go better for her.

Pete C · August-18th-2005, 05:13 PM

Taiwan Cafe in Chinatown passed the Cherches test.

http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/4724642/

Chris D · August-18th-2005, 06:17 PM

she's giving her second presentation in two days tomorrow, followed by the certification test. Then they plan on Lala Rokh to end their stay.